Luxembourg attracts more and more French people, less and less Belgians and Germans

The trend that began to emerge in the middle of 2024 was only confirmed during the following quarter: Luxembourg attracts more and more French cross-border workers, and fewer and fewer Belgian and German cross-border workers.

This trend is verified in the latest data published by Statec on Tuesday January 7, 2025. According to these, in the third quarter of the past year, if the share of French cross-border workers increased again by 0.5% compared to the three months previous, that of the Belgians fell by 0.1%, just like that of the Germans.

Result: the growth in the number of cross-border workers only reached 0.1% for the last quarter, driven by the increase in the number of French people who cross the border to take up employment.

Significant growth of the French over one year, stagnation of the Belgians, decline of the Germans

Statec also compares the data for 2024 with those for 2023. Here too, France stands out compared to its neighbors across Quiévrain and across the Rhine, with an increase in the share of cross-border workers of 1.9%. from one year to the next.

Conversely, this share remained stable for Belgians, with no change between 2023 and 2024. Germany, for its part, saw its proportion of cross-border commuters decrease by 0.4% from one year to the next. other.

Disparities depending on trades

Statec also gives trends in the number of employees for the country’s main sectors of activity. Several declines have been noted: the construction sector, which has been experiencing a severe crisis for several months, saw its number of workers decrease by 5.2%, all nationalities combined, between 2023 and 2024. The industrial sector is also experiencing a decline of around 1%, just like that of information and communication, with a drop of 0.4%.

Conversely, certain sectors are on the rise. Administration and public services recorded an increase of 4% year-on-year, while specialized activities and support services increased by 2%. The commerce, transport, accommodation and catering sector saw a 1.1% increase in its number of employees.